Seo Hyunwoo suddenly asked after Kwak Hyeol.
When I answered that he’d gone far away, the surroundings fell silent in an instant.
Under the sharp gazes, I turned and saw my teammates looking at with shocked faces.
“Why?”
“That... he’s really gone? When did it happen?”
Anna asked in a trembling voice.
“Well... soti yesterday?”
After the second survival, he’d been receiving treatnt at the Awakened Hospital, then sent to a Safe House run by the Detention Bureau—along with F17, who was rescued from the Salvation Church’s underground. Both had taken the Awakening Drug, and since everyone who took it either died or beca a Blood Fiend, they needed intensive supervision.
They said the Safe House was in Gangwon Province—a long way off, perhaps. So I’d said yes. Yet their reactions felt anything but normal.
‘Didn’t everyone dislike Hyeol hyung because his rank was low?’
And yet now this concern. It felt strange. Of course they’d never shown it in front of him, but none of them had paid him much mind. I was the only one who’d looked after him throughout the survival. Moreover, news that he’d moved to the Safe House was Bureau confidential. So what did these accusing looks an?
I asked, displeased.
“Should I have told you?”
Then everyone shouted at once.
“Of course you should!”
“Is that even a ‘tell’?!”
“Why would we ask if we knew?”
My eardrums nearly burst. Clutching my ears in pain, I frowned, and Taeyeon asked with a stern face,
“Did the PD know, too?”
“No? Why would I tell him?”
“Roy!”
Taeyeon grabbed both my shoulders and yelled. He said it was unthinkable, or sothing like that. Flustered, I couldn’t reply.
‘But Hyeol hyung isn’t even a celebrity. If he left the show, why would it matter?’
Still bewildered, I froze—then Yeonwoo smacked my forearm and scolded .
“Ugh! You can’t live without , can you! You always have to say these things right away!”
She rattled on that we weren’t strangers, that until last week we’d shared life and death, so it was absurd we hadn’t known about the notice of his departure. I finally realized the misunderstanding.
“No!”
“What do you an ‘no’?!”
Slap! Hit again—once more! Even my parents don’t do this! (Then again, my parents haven’t been around for long...)
Anyway—
“No, why would anyone kill a perfectly fine person? If sothing happened, of course I’d tell you!”
Silence.
“You said he’d gone far away! He’s on a trip! So why are you hitting ? Why!”
I protested my innocence, and my teammates exchanged glances and turned the bla around.
“Sorry, my mistake.”
“Who brought this up?”
“Seo Hyunwoo.”
“But /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ the one who hit you was Park Yeonwoo.”
“Wow~ So I’m the only one at fault? Great teamwork, excluding .”
I rubbed the spot where she’d hit , sulking, when I happened to turn and saw Han-gyeol and Junseo leaving the set.
“...!”
If I missed them now, I’d have to wait another week. But I couldn’t wait. The intervals between Blood Fiend appearances were shortening, and the chaotic evil spirit I’d seen was far stronger than I’d expected. Taeyeon, Yeonwoo, even Hojin nearly died. Chances were good Han-gyeol would be in danger, too. I couldn’t leave him wandering alone.
I leapt to my feet and chased after the two of them.
✧
“Director, wait!”
At “director,” Junseo turned around.
“Roy?”
Oops, I’d slipped. But Junseo didn’t seem to mind. When he stopped, Han-gyeol halted, too, then looked down at my panting form.
“Oh? The 1-second star.”
“Pardon?”
I looked up at him with wide eyes. I hadn’t expected him to recognize .
“You know ?”
“Of course.”
Han-gyeol smiled—he was the program MC, after all. And his agency was pressing to get him a spot, so of course he knew . Though I didn’t.
“You’re famous, 1-second star.”
“Ah...”
I hadn’t expected Han-gyeol to speak first, so I was a little thrown. Junseo, seeing my awkwardness, jumped in to break the tension.
“Roy, what’s the matter?”
“Well... you see...”
Feigning thought, I decided to use Kwak Hyeol, who wasn’t here.
“Hyeol hyung asked to pass along his regards. He’s doing much better.”
“Really? I’m glad to hear it.”
“Yes. So, he asked if he could rejoin the program.”
It was a lie. Hyeol was very satisfied with his so-called imprisonnt—actually, he was participating in a top-secret governnt clinical trial as a test subject. Junseo wore a troubled look.
“I’m sorry. That would be difficult.”
Though his departure had been unavoidable, allowing an already-left contestant to return would be unfair. I’d known he’d say that, so I’d brought up Hyeol.
“Of course. It’s fine. He didn’t seem to expect much anyway.”
“We’ll contact Kwak Hyeol one more ti.”
“No need. You’re busy—I’ll tell him myself.”
Feigning charity, I blocked the staff from contacting Hyeol. If they reached him and he said, “I never asked for that,” I’d be in trouble.
“Well, I’ll be going.”
I nodded politely, then glanced back at Han-gyeol—almost in wonder. Our eyes t.
‘Now’s my chance.’
I intended to use a skill to make him co to . But Han-gyeol’s eyes curved mischievously, and he spoke first.
“You like , don’t you?”
What nonsense was this? I couldn’t help but frown.
“Are you out of your mind...?”
My genuine thought slipped out, and everyone froze. The most surprised was .
“...!”
I didn’t dislike him enough to curse him at first eting—he was annoying, but still part of the team. Thankfully, he didn’t seem bothered. He even looked amused. A pervert?
“Not at all~ You’re totally interested in , aren’t you?”
“What nonsense—”
I nearly let another thought slip, so I quickly clamped my mouth shut. His sly grin sent thoughts tumbling out of my brain unchecked.
“You’re my fan, right? You always look at with such passionate eyes when I co.”
“My eyes naturally sparkle.”
“No~ But I’m pretty sure you’re my fan. I know you ca to my agency to see .”
Damn. How did he know that? Wilderness Han-gyeol was far more sleazy and creepy than the one I knew. I’d planned to brush it off as fandom and politely say I’d like to et often, then bow out. But he pushed so much that contrariness kicked in—I’d be proud to deny him now.
“I used to be your fan, but not anymore.”
He who tolerates all other insults could not stand “defan.” His face lost its sly smile for the first ti.
“Used to be...?”
“Why? Why don’t you like now?”
“Well....”
But did you know? Starting a sentence then stopping is one of the most maddening things you can do.
“No, never mind.”
“Excuse ? No, why stop—”
“I don’t think it’s polite to continue this conversation. Goodbye.”
I bowed and walked away without a backward glance.
✧
It worked—I’d caught him. The next morning, Han-gyeol arrived early on set and sought out Junseo.
“Oh? Mr. Han-gyeol, what brings you here? No MC shots today.”
“Ha ha! I know~ I just wanted to treat everyone working hard to so cold drinks.”
Outside, the coffee trucks were visible—two of them, even.
“You’re buying them?”
“Of course.”
“Help yourselves and let know if you need more.”
He laughed heartily and led the gathering staff toward the trucks. Yet his own smile was forced. His porcelain-clear skin, itemized every day of the year, looked rough and pale today—thanks to an all-nighter.
‘Why did he defan ?’
‘He was such a devoted fan he even ca to the agency... why?’
‘Male fans are rare...!’
Whatever he thought, every question ended with “why?” and he couldn’t sleep. Even knowing it wasn’t worth stressing over, he felt compelled to keep thinking—why one lost fan mattered enough to delay his schedule. So he brought coffee trucks to the set. Yet the contestants were nowhere to be seen.
He decided to approach Junseo and feel things out.
“Director~ Are you a bit free today? I don’t see the contestants.”
“We should start soon. You ca at a good ti—we’re filming sothing fun. If you have a mont, watch.”
“May I?”
“Of course.”
Junseo gave him excuse to stay and watch.
“What are you filming?”
“Well, you see.”
He turned aningfully to where Junseo was looking. Then,
“Kiieeeek!”
“Uwaaah!”
A Blood Fiend lunged forward with outstretched arms. Yes! During the third Star Hero retreat, the first shoot was a hidden-cara interview with a Blood Fiend.
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